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NEW YORK -- The last time the New York Yankees had been under .500 during the second half of a season was in 1995, when Alex Rodriguez was a rookie shortstop with the Seattle Mariners.But after Michael Pineda allowed three homers in a 5-3 defeat to the Boston Red Sox on Friday night, New York has a losing record after the All-Star break for the first time in more than two decades.Rodriguez, who ended knuckleballer Steven Wrights perfect-game bid with two-out infield single in the fifth inning, took grounders at first base before the game. Having lost his everyday designated hitter job due to a season-long slump, A-Rod hopes to make himself more versatile as his 41st birthday approaches on July 27.Last year, I think I had over 600 at-bats, so the focus for me was to be in the lineup every day and do damage, Rodriguez said. I think this year is a different year, different circumstances, so Im open to it.Rodriguez has not played in the field this year. He had two appearances at first last season, playing the entire game April 11 against Boston and moving there for the final three outs of a blowout loss to Texas on May 23.Last year we were not able to get him comfortable. He wants to try it again, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. He came to us, and Im not going to deny a player a chance, in that sense, so the fact that he wants to try to get comfortable is a good sign.Rodriguez is hitting .221 with eight homers and 28 RBI in 190 at-bats, including .202 with five homers and 17 RBI in 129 at-bats against righties. A-Rod was 1 for 4 Friday night, when he made just his second start since June 30.I think its a mental test for him, in a sense, Girardi said. Physically, I think he has the skills. He has the hands. He has the ability to throw. He understands the game. So I think its more of a mental: Do I feel comfortable enough to go out there at first base?Girardi would like more options at first. Mark Teixeira, Dustin Ackley, Greg Bird and Chris Parmelee have all spent time on the disabled list. Now that hes back, Teixeira is restricted by his right knee.Four days has been about his limit. He gets fairly sore, Girardi said.A-Rod, whose contract runs through 2017, admitted lack of playing time sparked his decision.First base is a lot more challenging than I think people give it credit, he said. For me, its the most underrated part of a defensive team.Girardi also disclosed that struggling Nathan Eovaldi will rejoin the rotation Tuesday against Baltimore, a day after Ivan Nova starts the series opener. Eovaldi allowed two hits over 1 1/3 innings in his third relief appearance.New York is 45-46, 5 1/2 games back of the ALs second wild card and in danger of its first losing season since 1992. Only four Yankees had outstanding first halves: right fielder Carlos Beltran, and relievers Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman.Consistency is the word thats going to ring out loud here, Girardi said. Thats how you put long streaks together where you win six out of seven, you win 14 out of 17, if your starting pitching is consistent. Our offense has to be consistent, where we put up runs on a consistent basis. And the other thing I think is really important is the bullpen besides the last three guys.Beltrans two-run single and Brian McCanns RBI grounder in a three-run sixth were the offensive highlights for the Yankees, who managed four hits.Pineda (3-9) had his second straight poor performance, looking frustrated as he kicked at the mound after the long balls. He gave up five runs and five hits in five-plus innings, leaving him with a 5.56 ERA and 18 home runs allowed in 18 starts this season.Its just not executing when he needs to execute, Girardi said.The 10-game homestand, which ends with three games against San Francisco, likely will determine whether the Yankees start to deal veterans before the Aug. 1 trade deadline. Every loss increases the sense of urgency.Of course there is, Girardi said. You start to run out of days.IN THE SEATSIndiana Gov. Mike Pence, announced by Donald Trump as his pick for Republican vice presidential nominee, was in the crowd of 47,459, the Yankees fourth home sellout this season.UP NEXTLHP CC Sabathia (5-6) is scheduled to start Saturday for New York, and LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-3) for Boston following his recall from the minors on Friday. Sabathia has allowed 22 runs -- 21 earned -- in his last four starts after giving up 15 earned runs in his first 11. Roberto Osuna Jersey . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. Lance McCullers Jersey . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. http://www.baseballastrosproshop.com/jake-marisnick-astros-jersey/ . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. Jose Altuve Astros Jersey . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. Michael Brantley Jersey . Ivanovic was leading 7-5, 1-0 when Hantuchova withdrew after falling 0-40 behind in the second game. The match started slowly for Ivanovic, who surrendered her first two serves as Hantuchova took a 5-3 lead. The All Blacks earned their victory in Dublin and fair play to Ireland, they came out full of confidence and took their game to a whole new level. Irish teams have reached a breaking point in the past, but this current crop never give up.I think the likes of Jamie Heaslip, Sean OBrien, young Josh van der Flier, and even their two props, really took it to the All Blacks.In what was a bruising encounter, the first three minutes were what stood out for me. The intent that the All Blacks came out with was really good to see. They just absolutely looked like they were going to wipe Ireland from the park, and it was good to get that little bit of a buffer. But then Ireland came back at them, and thats the sign of a team who took a blow but never gave up.The All Blacks have now got a foe to look forward to in their next encounter whenever that comes about.The starting game has been an issue for the All Blacks, particularly in Chicago where Ireland jumped out to a healthy lead. In most matches everyone invariably waits for someone to do something brilliant, but I think the All Blacks mindset in Dublin was that no-one was going to wait for anyone else; there were 15 guys going out there and saying, Im going to be the one who makes the difference right from the outset.That attitude comes through reflection, and much of that stems from what happening in Chicago. The All Blacks will have been suffering internally and waiting for that moment when the first whistle went, and from there they just unleashed it and made a statement in the first three minutes.The physicality of both sides was huge. Ireland, to their credit, retained the ball fairly well; they didnt cough it up nor make many mistakes and were able to hang onto the ball for long phases which required the All Blacks to make nearly three times as many tackles as the Irish.Sitting and watching it, I thought it was a fantastic Test match. It truly was a test in the sense of the words Test match. Too many games these days are one-sided, but that certainly wasnt the case on this occasion.At the end of it there were the usual gripes, grizzles and moans, people crying foul which took away from what the game actually was - a great spectacle.It was interesting to compare the Irish reaction with that of the All Blacks in Chicago. Crying foul is wrong. At the end of the day the scoreboard says what the score was. You can whinge and moan all you like.In saying that, the All Blacks discipline is something that does need to be looked at. They need to put their hands up and say, hey, we gave away far too many penalties. Some of those penalties were 100 percent right. They push the boundaries, but when they get under pressure the All Blacks have a mindset that they would much rather give a penalty away than concede a try.As for Sam Canes tackle, well it was certainly physical and maybe he misjudged it slightly. But it wasnt intentional. He had no intent to go and make contact with the head or hit that early -- he basically rolled into him. So it was sort of a difficult one whereas Malakai Fekitoas tackle was clumsy.Again, it was borne out of desperation as the All Blacks were stretched and he had to make that tacklee.dddddddddddd But he went too high. He knew it as soon as hed done it. But again, it wasnt his intention for that to happen. The All Blacks need to look at their discipline though, they need to tidy up that part of their game.I loved what Steve Hansen came out and said, and it was the same from Tony Johnson in commentary, that Beauden Barretts try was a penalty try. Ireland fly-half Jonathon Sexton went right round the neck and didnt want to let go.The TMO was looking at the grounding, and it should have been the same with the tackle. Sexton put his arms right round Barretts neck and that should have been not only a penalty try, but a penalty back at halfway, and possibly a yellow card as well.It was mind-boggling for me that youve got a referee, a TMO and two touch judges more worried about the grounding than the head high tackle. Clearly, Sexton was trying to stop a try being scored just, as Ive explained earlier, the All Blacks were trying to do in their infringements. But it just shows that it is part and parcel of the game of rugby.Barrett was absolutely superb: his pace is outstanding. Hes turning into a superstar. If he keeps going the way hes going, and he is World Rugbys player of the year, hes destined to have one of the all-time great careers. And hes still a young man with plenty of time left in the game.Now theres just France left to face, a banana skin that everyone wants to avoid. The last game of the season is always a tough one for the All Blacks. Theyve had their casualties with Sam Cane and Ben Smith both ruled out; but as we have said many times, it gives others an opportunity.France in Paris is going to be a tough ask and I cant help but think of what Sean Fitzpatrick used to say about the last game of the season being the one you want to win. You dont want to have that niggling feeling of a final defeat when you are lying on a beach somewhere in the offseason.It has been a fantastic year for the All Blacks, but this is still a defining moment for their year. Theres been one hiccup and you wouldnt want another in order to be able to put a line under 2016 and say that was a great year.Thats not to forget that the French have plenty of ammunition themselves after their quarterfinal humiliation in last years Rugby World Cup. Its a mental battle more than anything this weekend. You cant get any fitter, you cant get any stronger and Gilbert Enoka and the coaches have got to get the guys heads in the right places.People who havent been there wont understand, but touring does take it out of you and it is only natural to be looking forward to a holiday when you havent had one for a long time.Selection is going to be interesting in this one. You cant avoid TJ Perenara the way he is playing at the moment. Hes absolutely on top of his game, his form is the best it has ever been and you would expect the selectors to do what their job is and select the best player to wear the black jersey, or its new equivalent for away games, for any given Test match.What more does a guy have to do to get a starting position? ' ' '